They stood, heading toward the sea to leave, when a sharp, piercing sound shattered the moment. Suddenly, a sleek, deadly trident shot out of the water with terrifying speed, spinning through the air like a harbinger of destruction. It hurtled straight at Aurelia.
Arielle moved in a flash, grabbing Aurelia and pulling her out of harm's way. The trident embedded itself in the sand, its wickedly sharp prongs glinting ominously under the moonlight.
"Get behind me," Arielle commanded, shoving Aurelia behind her and stepping forward, her stance protective and unwavering.
Before Aurelia could process what was happening, the sea erupted behind them. The once-calm waters twisted and churned, forming a massive, spiraling vortex that seemed to reach the heavens. From the center of the watery chaos emerged a figure—a stunningly beautiful woman with flowing black hair and piercing green eyes. Her aura was cold yet commanding, and her expression carried a cruel, mocking edge.
"Well, well," the woman said, her voice lilting with false sweetness. "Arielle, is that you?"
"What do you want, Seraphina?" Arielle spat, her tone sharp and full of venom.
"The royal bloodline," Seraphina replied casually, her gaze shifting to Aurelia as a sinister smile crept across her face. She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at her.
Aurelia froze, her heart pounding in her chest.
Without warning, Seraphina moved—so fast that Aurelia barely saw her. In an instant, she struck Arielle with such force that she was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the sand several feet away.
Aurelia gasped, panic clawing at her throat. Before she could react, Seraphina turned her attention fully to her. The woman's emerald eyes bore into her as if peeling away her very soul.
"So," Seraphina said, circling Aurelia slowly, her tone dripping with condescension. "You're the 'lost princess'? I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed." Her gaze roved over Aurelia from head to toe, and she smirked. "You don't look like much."
Aurelia clenched her fists, but her body refused to move. She felt frozen, trapped under Seraphina's intense scrutiny.
Seraphina raised a hand, her fingers glowing faintly with a strange, eerie light. She reached toward Aurelia, her smirk widening. "Let's see if you're worth all the trouble—"
Before she could finish, a blur of motion interrupted her. Arielle, having recovered from the earlier blow, appeared out of nowhere, her fist connecting squarely with Seraphina's face. The impact was so powerful it sent Seraphina flying backward, crashing into the water with a deafening splash.
Aurelia stumbled back, her heart racing. "What—what just happened?" she stammered, staring at Arielle, who was now standing between her and the water like a shield.
"Stay behind me," Arielle said, her voice low and dangerous, her green eyes locked on the water where Seraphina had disappeared.
The sea rippled ominously, and a deep, echoing laugh filled the air. Seraphina rose from the water, her hair whipping around her like dark tendrils, her expression now twisted with rage.
"I'm here for the girl! Move aside! " Seraphina hissed, her voice like a venomous whisper carried on the wind.
Arielle's stance tightened. "Over my dead body."
"Easily arranged," Seraphina snarled, and the air grew colder as the waters behind her began to churn once more.
The waters churned and twisted violently, forming yet another towering tornado of water. The sound was deafening, a mix of crashing waves and an unnatural, guttural roar. Seraphina's emerald eyes glowed an eerie, vibrant green, illuminating her face in an otherworldly light. Behind her, the swirling tornado began to shift and solidify, forming sharp, jagged spears of water, each one glinting like liquid glass in the moonlight.
Seraphina raised her glowing hands, her smirk growing wider. "Let's see how long you can hold out," she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.
In an instant, the water spears shot forward with terrifying speed, slicing through the air like arrows of death.
Arielle's eyes flashed a softer green as she threw her hands up, summoning a shimmering water barrier that surrounded them both. The spears collided with the barrier, sending tremors through it like ripples across a pond. Arielle gritted her teeth, her glowing eyes narrowing in concentration. The force of the attack pushed her back slightly, her legs digging into the sand as she held the barrier firm.
Aurelia stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding. She could see the strain on Arielle's face, the sweat forming on her brow. The barrier was holding, but barely. She had no idea what to do—but she knew she had to help.
Something deep inside her stirred, a warmth blooming in her chest and spreading through her limbs. It was as if an ancient instinct was waking up, clawing its way to the surface. Without thinking, Aurelia raised her hands.
A blinding golden light erupted from her palms, cutting through the darkness like a sunrise breaking the night. The light was so intense that it shattered Arielle's water barrier and obliterated the incoming spears in a dazzling explosion of energy. Even the water tornado behind Seraphina dissolved into harmless waves, the sheer force of the light scattering its power.
For a moment, everything was still. Aurelia stared at her glowing hands in shock, her chest heaving. She hadn't expected anything to happen—she didn't even know what she'd done.
Seraphina staggered back, shielding her eyes from the radiance. When the light faded, her glowing green eyes locked on Aurelia with a mixture of anger and... fear. "So," she hissed, her voice shaking slightly. "The royal bloodline isn't as dormant as I thought."
Aurelia opened her mouth to respond, but a sharp, searing pain suddenly shot through her head. She gasped, clutching her temples as the world spun around her. Her legs gave out, and before she could process what was happening, everything went black.
The last thing she heard was Arielle's voice calling her name.